Saturday, May 5, 2007
Thursday, May 3, 2007
notes on recent showcase concert
A lot of these guys were starting out. There are so many songs out there that you have to have some sort of purple cow in your songs. Something which gives something for people to talk about and makes it remarkable. Having the notes bend and reach maybe isn't enough anymore. The first 10 seconds has to pull you in these days. These guys were missing those hooks and those "purple cows." Some of the instrumentation was too basic on some of the songs - just guitar and vocals. The lyrics do not have a poetic quality about them - perhaps these songwriters have not read through a lot of poetry. Also, none of them announced a website or a place where you could buy their material. I saw a drummer who was technically good but he misses the expressive nuances - perhaps it is not fair to compare him with the other drummer I know. Some of them were not used to being on the stage and were not expressive with their faces. Some of the songs miss a type of structure or melodic curve that increases tension. It just misses that big climax point. Some of these songs do not much use tempo changes/dynamic changes/accents to create drama. Though drama is largely unneccessary in many kinds of music - maybe I'm just the over the top type of person. I don't like drama in daily life but when it comes to something performed onstage I think shakespeare go the right about drama into his art. I want to make my music pregnant with drama! But these criticisms are not bringing them down - they all have talent and positive things about their performances too. they're certainly above my current level.
What I learned was that - the second guy had a type of stage/interpersonal/dress well charisma. I liked the whole idea of gospel music though I don't listen to it - which is using art for a higher purpose than to just make art. The last act was terrific. Though they are a hip hop act I should probably seize my opportunity to work with them. I think they have a bright future. They did sufficient instrumentation to serve their songs right. Excellent use of tambourine / (bongos?) Overall ironically I learned a lot by sitting in the audience vs performing. I have many convictions about how I want music to be. I'm not saying I have convictions about how music SHOULD be. But I think a strong and distinct, nuanced sense of conviction about how you want art to be indicates the person has a little bit of - maturity when it comes to - creativity. which is what I'm searching for.
Lastly another problem was that it did not offend anyone or at least the older generation. NOT that I think someone should intentionally do this sort of trollish behavior. I believe that good music sometimes provokes emotion. Provoke should be in italics. Music sometimes should CHALLENGE, not just entertain. I also believe that music is a tool for separating the generations. It doesn't actually have to be different and revolutionary. The older generation just has to not like it. That was the whole thing about rock and roll back in the day. Music gives a form of generational identification. Though that generation grows up and realizes they weren't too different from their parents. Though that is ok. Music doesn't have to ACTUALLY BE that revolutionary and THAT different to serve the purpose of creating group or generational identification/separation, bla bla bla.
What I learned was that - the second guy had a type of stage/interpersonal/dress well charisma. I liked the whole idea of gospel music though I don't listen to it - which is using art for a higher purpose than to just make art. The last act was terrific. Though they are a hip hop act I should probably seize my opportunity to work with them. I think they have a bright future. They did sufficient instrumentation to serve their songs right. Excellent use of tambourine / (bongos?) Overall ironically I learned a lot by sitting in the audience vs performing. I have many convictions about how I want music to be. I'm not saying I have convictions about how music SHOULD be. But I think a strong and distinct, nuanced sense of conviction about how you want art to be indicates the person has a little bit of - maturity when it comes to - creativity. which is what I'm searching for.
Lastly another problem was that it did not offend anyone or at least the older generation. NOT that I think someone should intentionally do this sort of trollish behavior. I believe that good music sometimes provokes emotion. Provoke should be in italics. Music sometimes should CHALLENGE, not just entertain. I also believe that music is a tool for separating the generations. It doesn't actually have to be different and revolutionary. The older generation just has to not like it. That was the whole thing about rock and roll back in the day. Music gives a form of generational identification. Though that generation grows up and realizes they weren't too different from their parents. Though that is ok. Music doesn't have to ACTUALLY BE that revolutionary and THAT different to serve the purpose of creating group or generational identification/separation, bla bla bla.
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